How Does a Scalp Exfoliator Work?

The same way then the skin on your face can feel a little grimy and look a little dull, your scalp can get itchy or flakey or just never feel clean. You know that feeling? Welp, sometimes, that's caused by product building up on your scalp. And, if you know you don't legit have dandruff (you need special products if you do), you may have tried a scalp scrub.

There are mixed reports about scalp scrubs: some say it’s a no go, because over-scrubbing can irritate skin and damage delicate strands. Others say it’s a must for people who have especially oily or dry skin, or who use a lot of products. Personally, I’m obsessed and believe you should do it once a month no matter what your issue is and you’ll end up with rejuvenated hair and an invigorated scalp.

So how does it work?

It depends! If you use a gritty formula, like Ouidad Mediterranean Bay Leaf Exfoliating Hair & Scalp Treatment, you’ll massage it onto your wet scalp between shampooing and conditioning. The bay leaf oil has serious restorative qualities, and the little particles of scrub-stuff (in this case, bamboo) will loosen dirt, product build-up and dead skin setting up camp on your scalp. Then, when you rinse, it all washes away. Just. Like. That.

If you use a leave-in spray with salicylic acid, like Aveda’s Scalp Remedy Dandruff Solution, you’ll spritz your scalp and do your thing. It’ll do the same loosening that the grittier versions do without the actual scrubbing action — great for those who don’t have the time (or the patience, I feel you).

If you’re like me and prefer to whip stuff up on your own, you can make an awesome head-to-toe scrub by mixing brown sugar with coconut oil unit you get a consistency you like. (This scrub is literally my answer for everything, btw. It’s that good.) Scared of oil? You can also mix a tablespoon of brown sugar with conditioner in the palm of your hand, then scrub your scalp. Done.